US2943756A - Hinge structure - Google Patents

Description

July 5, P. F. WHITE HINGE STRUCTURE Filed May ?4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. l PHIL/P F. WHITE I v /)i I BY Q I I P. F. WHITE HINGE STRUCTURE July 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1956 FIG. 5

INVENTOR.

PHIL IP 5 WHITE United States Patent 2,943,751; I HINGE momma Philip F. White, La Mesa, cane, assignor to General Dynamics Corporation (Convair Division),-'San Diego, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 24, 1956, Sl. No. 587,134

a 'Claimst Cl, 217- 60) and other types of airplanes are equipped with radar I equipment which provides the pilot with advance warning of flight weather conditions; The radar antenna is normally: housed withina'rado'rrie dfJnon-rnetallic material positioned-onthe no eor thefairplanebody to pr tivid'e for'optimum' operating efficiency, For, aerodynamic purposes, theradornelisq of generally hemispherical configjuration blending with the contourof the airp'lane body. In. ordertthat convenient accessibilityb'e afiorded for maintenance and servicing ,of the antenna, it isidesirable to attach the radome to the airplane body through. a

single pointhinge suspension inprefe'rence to a detachable mounting arrangement which latter alternative involves additional time and handling to accomplish the same end. i I I However, hingingiof a hemispherical shape to the air-' plane body presents aproblem since thehinge must carry the weight of the radome and further res'ist torque loads transmitted through the hinge from the radome into the airplane body. Single point hinge suspension, in andof itselfiin connection withlarge diameter radome'sj is not, sufficiently adequate in'view of the length of the r'noment armas determined by' the diameterof'thejradome. Furthenwhen in openposition, external forces such as strong winds blowing against the radome irripos e a severe strain 7 on the hinge as well as. to the structiirefto' which the hinge is attached.

From the foregoing it will he readily appar nt that a single hinge adaptedgto" pivotally secure a radome a: an

airplane body requires force accepting means to satisfactorily relieve strain which may be imposed on the hinge.

" 1 It is, therefore, an object of the present inventionto provide novel structure for use in connection with a hinged member which serves .to minimize strainexerted upon the hinge. v

Another object of thisinvention' is to provide a stabilizer devicefora hinged member through which device torque strains are transmitted for distributionover a relatively large bearing area. I 5 I II Another object of this invention is to provide in connection with a-device of the character above prop means adapted to support a hinged member in open position relative to its supporting structure.-

Another object of this invention is to provide a torque I distributing stabilizer device for a hinged member which is simple in construction, eflicient in operation, durable,

eateatea- $195,196?) 7 2 and which satisfactorily serves the purpose for w ch it is intended. I I I Other objects and features of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art' from the following specification and appended. drawings wherein is illustrated a preferred form of the invention, and in which: V I

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the present invention embodied in an airplane, with the radome of the airplane being shown in open position and associated radar mechanism exposed; I

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the hinge stabilizer assembly of the present invention located on the nose portion of an airplane which is shown in dot and dash lines; 7 h

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the assembly shown in Figure 2; I

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line lV-'-IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V=V of Figure 4, and I I Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line of Figure 3. 7

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to I Figure 1 a hinge stabilizer assembly 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention, is shown in en ative association with an airplane indicated generally in the, drawings by the numeral 11. Assembly 10 is located [at the nose section of the airplane, which nose [section includesa radome 12, made of a material which perrnits the readylpassage of microwave energy. Rado'me 12 of generally hemispherical configuration and is pivotally mounted on the body 13 of the airplane at its "upper marginal edge by a usual double-leaf hinge 14 having one of its leaves secured to the radome 12 and the other to the body 13 as by nuts and bolts or in any other conventional fashion. .,Positioned on a bulkhead 15 of body13 and adapted to be enclosed by radome 12 are a usual radarantenna and its associated equipment indicated generally by the numeral 16.

Rigidly awed to airplane bulkhead 15, generally midway between the location of hinge 14, and the center of the bulkhead 15, are two bearing block's17 and two hearing blocks 13 arranged in alignment in aplane parallel to the planeofjhe longitudinal axis of the. airplane.

. As shown in Figure '3', the two bearingblocks 18 are located inwardly of the bearing blocks "17/ Bearing blocks 17 and 18'serve to journal a torque, shaft 19 which is secured against longitudinal displacement relative'tdthe bearing' blocks by'a pair of stop means 21 carried by torqueshaft 19 adjacent opposed facesof the bearing blocks 18. As shown in Figure 6, stop'mearis 21 comprises 'a pair of generally semi-circular elements fiz fitted at opposite sides of torque shaft 19 and secured 'to the torque shaft 19 by a bolt and nut assembly'ZS;

Carried by shaft-19 are two triangulartruss assemblies 2 1, each assembly 24 formed of a pair of braces 25 and Zewhich extend from connections with torque shaft 19 I at their inner ends to join at an apex as at 27. The braces 25 and 26 are secured to each other at the V-shaped juncture of their outer extremities asby welding and are secured to the torque shaft 19 as by welding, for common movement therewith. As shown, in their connection to torque shaft 19, brace 25 will'be located on one side of a bearing block 17 and brac'e 2 6 on the opposite side. At the V-shaped juncture 27 of each'of the truss assemblies 24 there is formed a slot 28 within whichfis I secured, as by welding, a plate 29. Each of thep'air' jo'f plates 29 extends beyond the outer end of its truss "24 and projects into a space provided between apair of track-engaging or slide members 31, and each is pivotally connectedto its associated pair of members 31 by a bolt prevent loss or misplacement thereof.

,propped in open position.

and nut 33 as shown in Figure 5,- suitable recesses 34 being provided in members 31 to accommodate the head of bolt 32 and the nut 33. Bolt 32 and nut 33,

thus serve to hold a pair of slide members 31 in assembly and -to pivotally connect a plate 29 to such assembly.

Carried on radome 12 transverse to torque shaft 13 are a pair of laterally spaced-apart, parallel, elongated tracks 36; which tracks are secured in chord-wise disposition to radome 12 by suitable brackets 37. Tracks 36, as shown in Figure '4, are of generally C-shape configuration in cross section and include a top Wall 3-8, side walls 39 and a pair of inwardly directed flanges 41 with a space between the opposed ends of the latter through which space plate 29 extends. Contained within the area-way defined by the walls of each of the tracks 36 are theinterconnected slide members 31 which rest upon'and are adapted to ride along an extended trackway formed by the inwardly directed flanges 41. Flanges 41 are not continuous along the lengths of tracks 36 but terminate short of the inner ends thereof as at 4'2 (Figure 2) to permit the ready insertion of assembled slide members 31 into the passageway of such track s. Each of the tracks '36 is provided with opposed openings 43 in side walls 39 thereof, which openings are adapted to register with aligned openings 44 in slide members 31 when radome 12 is moved to its desired open positlon. With openings 43 and 44 in registry a pin 45 may be inserted therethrough to lock the slide members 31 to the track. With slide members 31 locked in posit1on trusses 24 are secured against further movement and serve as props to hold radome 12 in open position. As shown n FigureA, one end of pin 45 is formed into a loop as at 46 to which one end of a chain 47 is attached,

the other end being fastened. to convenient structure .to

In the closed position of radome 12 it will be secured 4 minate inwardly of the end of the tracks 36. When the slide members 31 are moved beyond the inner ends of flanges 41 they are free to be withdrawn from within tracks 36. Thereafter, hinge 14 may be removed or disassembled to disconnect radome 12 from the airplane.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within theterms of the following claims.

What I claim is: V V

1. In combination, a supporting structure, a member hingedly mounted at one point on said structure, and means for maintaining said hinged member in adjusted position relative to said structure, said means comprising a torque member, journal means for rotatively mounting said torque member on said supporting structure, a plurality of brace means carried by said torque member and movable therewith, stop means on said torque member in engagement with said journal means for restraining longitudinal displacement of said torque member along its axis of rotation, and a plurality of slidably mounted means carried by said hinged member, each having a pivotal connection with a brace means and each adapted to be restrained against movement relative to said hinged member to hold said hinged member in adjusted position.

2.' In combination, a supporting structure, a cover member hingedly mounted at one point on said structure and swingably movable between opened and closed positions, and means for maintaining said cover member in opened position, said means comprising a torque memagainst inadvertent opening 'by usual quick disconnect fasteners (not shown). When itis desired to gain access to the radar equipment 16 covered by radome 12, the

disconnect fasteners are actuated to release the connection of radome 12 to aircraft bulkhead 15, whereupon the relationship of the-axis of hinge 14 and the axis of torque shaft 19 carrying the braces 25 and 26 causes the track engaging members 31 to slide within tracks 36 in the direction of hinge 14. When radome 12 is lifted to a position substantially ninety degrees from its closed posit on, openings 44 in slide members 31' align-with openings 43 in track walls '39; whereupon pin 45 may be inserted to lock trusses 24 to radome 12 to hold the latter With the use of the arrangement hereinabove described hinge 14 will be laternally stabilized and be relieved of .torque loads which might tend to tear it loose while the radome 12 is being moved between its open and closed POSIUOIIS or in the event that but one pair of slide members 31 is locked to its track and a pin 45, inadvertently or otherwise, not inserted into the other pair of slide members 31; Such loads, as they occur, will be accepted by the various brace members 25 and 26 and will be equalized-by the torque shaft 19 transmitting loads from thebraces 25 and 26 at one side of the radome to the braces 25 and 26 at the opposite side of the radome. By

relieving hinge 14 of the stresses of torque loads, a hinge 'is employed which is relatively'light and, simple in construction, there beingno necessity for a heavy construc- ,tion to assure structural integrity.

:member pivotally mounted at one point on said structure her, means mounting said torque member on said supporting structure for rotative movement, aplurality of br'acemeans carried at one of their'ends by said torque member and movable therewith, means on said torque ble members, means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said brace'm'ea'ns to said slidable members, and means for locking said slidable members to their support members to retain saidcover member in opened positlon.

3. In combination, a supporting structure, a cover for movement between opened and closed positions, and meansadapted to accommodate torque loads which are applied to said cover member when in opened position and for maintaining said covermember' in its opened position, said means comprising a torque member, jourjral means for mounting said torque member on said supporting. structurefor rotatiye mQYement, a plurality of brace'means carried at one of their ends bysaid torque member and movable in common therewith, means carried by said torque member for engagingsaid journal means to restrain movement of said torque member along its axis of rotative movement, a plurality of track means mounted on said cover member, slidable means mounted for reciprocal movement on said track means, said slidable means being arranged for ready removal from saidtrack means, means for pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said brace means to said slidable means, and means for locking said slidable means to its associated track to retain said cover member in opened position.

- 4. In combination, a supporting, structure, a cover 1 member pivotally mountedat one point on said structure for movement between opened and closed positions, means adaptedto accommodate torque loads which are applied to said covermember when in opened position and for maintaining said cover member in its opened position, said means comprising a plurality of elongated track members mounted on saidcover member inspaced side-by- ,side relation, a torque shaft, journal means for rotatively movement of said torque shaft along its axis of rotation,

a track engaging member slid-ably positioned on each of said track members and having a pivotal connection with a projecting end of a brace member, and locking means for fixedly securing said'track engaging members at their associated track members to hold said cover member in opened position. q

5. Stabilizing means for a cover member which is pivotally connected by a hinge member at one point to a supporting structure for movementbetween opened and closed positions, said stabilizing means comprising a pair of elongated track members chordally mounted on said cover member in laterally spaced relationship, one on each side of said hinge member, a torque shaft extending transverse to said track members and joumalled on said supporting structure for rotative movement, a pair of spaced-apart brace means rigidly afiixed at one of their ends to said torque shaft for common movement therewith and projecting outwardly therefrom, means for restraining movement of said torque shaft relative to said supporting structure along its axis of rotative movement, a track engaging member on each of said track members mounted for reciprocal movement thereon, means pivotally connecting each of said brace means at its projecting end to one of said track engaging members, and means for locking said track engaging member to its associated track member to hold said cover member in its opened position.

6'. In combination, a cover member, hinge means for pivotally connecting said cover member at one point to supporting structure for movement between opened and closed positions, stabilizing means for said cover member in its opened position comprising a torque member journalled on said supporting structure for rotative movement, a pair of generally V-shaped brace means having the ends of their leg portions fixedly secured to said torque member for common movement therewith, means for restraining movement of said torque member relative to said supporting structure along its axis of rotative movement, a pair of elongated track members mounted on said cover member in laterally spaced relationship, one on each side of said hinge member, a track engaging member slidably positioned on each of said track members for reciprocal movement thereon, means pivotally connecting each of said V-shaped'brace members at its apex to one of the track engaging members, and means for locking said track engaging members against movement on said track members to hold said cover member in its opened position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,325,377 Richards Dec. 16, 1919 1,766,197 Shepard June 24, 1930 1,986,307 Wagner Jan. 1, 1935 2,006,603 Nordmark et al. July 2, 1935 2,013,542 Nordmark Sept. 3, 1935 2,070,046 Gredell Feb. 9, 1937 2,323,279 Van Zelm June 29, 1943 2,441,913 Taylor May 18, 1948 2,674,420 Johnson Apr. 6, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 572,804 Ireland Dec. 8, 1896

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